Sounds like an intermediate step between a .17 HMR and a .17 Mach IV. I think it is a great idea. It would be the smallest common .17 cartridge that I know of that you could reload. Should be good out to about 300 yards. Only problem is that hornet brass is notoriously problematic because it is thin. Number of times you can reload it may be limited. If you use extreme care, and get a quality rifle with a tight chamber, meaning not sloppy as is the case with a lot of hornets, it should be accurate and a very useful cartridge. And a tight chamber would lead to longer case life. I have a .17 Mach 2 and the HMR as well at the .17 Mach IV, now the .17 Fireball and love them all. Also have the .20 VarTarg and 2 .22 K Hornets. Each cartridge has its own place and if it is useful to someone, that is great. Should be a pretty quiet and very flat shooter. My inclination would be to use it for Prairie Dogs and other small varmints. Now I have to pay attention and figure out where to buy one. This is the first I have heard of it. So many cartridges to try, so little time.

What's the difference between the Hornady round and a .17 Ackley Hornet, which has been around since the early 1950s according to Cartridges of the World? I suppose there's no difference between Hornady "stealing" this round and putting their name on it as it is for Remington to "steal" the .17 Mach IV and put their name on it. Make a few insignificant changes in order to call it their own and see how much money can be made off it. Of course the one nice thing about it is that you'll be able to buy ready made ammo, or, if you reload, will be able to get ready-to-go brass and not have to go through the resizing hassle.

I believe it is the shoulder angle only.. Either would work and actually, I believe, you can reload and shoot either cheaper than buying the 17 HMR ammo. I do not believe anyone stole anything, just making more offers/styles available to us shooters. Marketing, you know. Bill K

Well, of course I was being facetious when I said "stealing". After all anything that's out of patent is fair game. In any event, my shooting buddy has a 17 Ackley Hornet on a T-C that he really likes. And he just got another one on a Cooper Varminter. He's still trying to work up some loads for that. It's a very pleasurable round to shoot, hardly any recoil and noise. I'd say the noise is not a heck of a lot more than my 22 Mag. I think he feels that the maximum range for our dinky Belding ground squirrels is probably not much more than 250 yards given our usual windy conditions. Beyond that and luck starts playing a bigger role. For you guys and your "huge" prairie dogs, 300 yards ought to be easy.
If Hornady is starting to make the brass for this round at least we should get some decent quality stuff.

I like it I have been using a 17AH for years and it will be nice to get one that has factory ammo available if needed. About problems with Hornet brass being thin that is not the problem many manufacturers treat the hornet as a rimfire and the brass is actually screwed up when fired. I shoot an 1885 low wall, cooper, browning A-bolt, and CZ 527 in Hornet or wildcats of same and have had no problems with a case in 35 years of shooting Hornets. Of the rifles that have come to me with problems the Savage model 40 has been terrible (rimfire bolt). I think they do not use this system on the model 25 Hornet butI have not seen one yet.

I have a 17Mach2 barrel on it's way to SSK Industries for re-chamber to 17 Hornet.. In the meantime I will be prepping brass and case's, alongwith some 20 grain bullets. Either or both Lil-gun and H4198 on the powder.. Yet another toy, to go with the small stuff... 20VT & 204R. Is it not fun ??? Bill K

Well I didn't get a Hornet, but I did buy 2 new rifles, a Remington 700 classic in 221 fireball and a Remington SPS in 17 fireball. Haven't got the 17 yet, should get here buy the end of the week. Can't lovcate any 17 fireball brass, so I guess I will be making some. Should be a fun squeek season lol. Ed

Ed. You should enjoy those two. Thought about a 17 FB and may still, down the road.. By the way where do you go now. Have not been into Alturas in a while and hear that The Beligerant Duck retired/closed ? The other shop still there or do you travel to Kfalls ? Bill K

I went to school and grad from High school with George's wife, Linda.. So you know I am old.. So far two of our local stores are still going, but I do purchase powder in Reno and most bullets on-line, seems to be cheaper that way.. A buddy is always trying to get me on Ebay and Gunbroker, he buys plenty there.. One day, if not to late, the way things are shaping up with obama and his puppets. Bill K

Linda is sick, that's why they closed the store. Linda is a damn fine woman. I have been buying Mid South's Varmint Nightmares. Have had very good luck with them. I am not a paper puncher, just know they kill the hell out of squeeks lol and they are cheap. ED

I know at our last class reunion, she was having health issues.. Too bad, but it sure does come along as we grow older.. I also shoot plenty of Midsouth bullets, alongwith Hornady & Noslers. But for general jack shooting, etc. Midsouth work very well for me. I get lots of groups that run 3/4 inch and smaller, so I am more than happy. Bill K

Ed,I shoot my 221 at squirrels a bunch 40gr. Nosler is absolutely fantastic, the 17 is abunch of fun too it is what I used on the rabbits in the other post. Have had my best luck with H4198 in the 17 and RL7 in the 221. Another sweet round for me is my 19 Badger, I really enjoy shooting these micro cartridges lots of rounds per pound and they get the job done too. Keep me posted on how your new rifles work out and let meknow if I can help with load development or anything. Dale.

No Dale I havn't shot either yet. I just mounted a scope on the 221 yesterday, have yet to get one for the 17. Imounted a 4.5x14 Nikon Buckmaster on the 221, probably will do the same on the 17. I have a lot of Nikons, good glass for the price. I do have a 6x25 Vortex in the safe, but it is waiting for a Rem 700 heavy barreled 204. I had a 204 but sold it, it was a Savage, good rifle but I am a Remington freak lol. ED

Email today from SSK Industries says my barrel was sent out Tuesday.. So it should be along. Now I just need the dies and shell holder to arrive and I can finish prepping my brass. load and fireform and start working up a load and sighting in.. Look out varmints, this and my 20's are just waiting for the little varmints to start popping out. Bill K

Email today from SSK Industries says my barrel was sent out Tuesday.. So it should be along. Now I just need the dies and shell holder to arrive and I can finish prepping my brass. load and fireform and start working up a load and sighting in.. Look out varmints, this and my 20's are just waiting for the little varmints to start popping out. Bill K

This little devil is looking really good. Managed to fireform and then reload about 25 case's.. The fireform loads, 11gr of AA1680 with the 20 grain bullet shoots one inch. Then after being reloaded the finished case is holding around 1/2 inch. Reloaded these again this evening. some with 11 some with 11.5 grains of powder. Will check them tomorrow and also see if I can connect with a bunny wabbit.. Might even get a coyote to come to call. Will see anyway. Bill K

Kevin, the tracks are jackrabbits, there are thousands of them around this is the start of the cycle again. They get thicker and thicker for about 9 years then are sort of hard to find for about 3 years, well this is the 4th year after a low so they are getting thick again.

Last year was a pretty good year for rabbits, just about anywhere in the sage... Like you show, in the snow, sand and grass, trails everywhere.. They also were reproduceing later into the summer.. You can not tell which one's have young.. Hope this do's not offend, but the photo shows fetus.. Bill K

During the last rabbit infestation here Bill I was taking 100 rds. of 221 Fireball killing 100 rabbits a day (2007) they were eating the outside circle of the hay fields to the ground it was bad for the farmers it is looking like it is coming again. The strange part about it is you can go a day and see no rabbits, like today, maybe something to do with the weather.

Know what you mean. One day they will be jumping and running all over, the next might get up a couple. Do not know if barometric pressure or what disturbs them. Wind really does not seem to, that much. But it makes for a good walk about and you just never know what will come about. Bill K

Looking good Dale. I haven't shot Jacks since I was a kid. Haven't noticed many up here. I heard down around Ravendale a guy might find some. Since this is a 17 threat lol I guess if i was to go down there I should use my 17 fireball . Ed

Ed. plenty of them in the sage all around the Likely, ravendale area, south into secret valley and east into NV. Fun to just walk the sage and jump shot them. Early am and late evening they can often be seen out and about feeding. Get up on a point and view the flats below and you may get some sniper shots at various ranges. It is fun. Your 17FB would be a fun one on them. Bill K

Or high on a ridge or point and snipe them as they come out, feed and move around down below, at various ranges.. Sometimes, if you hit it right, you can sit in one spot and work a whole lot of area and get 20 shots or so, before you have to move. Bill K